Episode 139 Notes and Links to Felicia Taylor’s Work
On Episode 139 of The Chills at Will Podcast, Pete welcomes Felicia Taylor, and the two discuss, among other topics, the ways in which memory and her childhood and her family histories have informed her work, her creative process, living a creative life as poet, playwright, actor, etc., and themes and thought processes manifested in her standout poetry collection.
Felicia Taylor E is a writer, poet, storyteller, performer and arts educator, along with being a "gently nudging" wife to her hubby and a fun "trying to stick to a schedule" mom for her son. She has been writing since elementary school and has kept a diary or a journal since the 5th grade. Southern Spiced: A Brown Girl's Tale is her first book.
Felicia Taylor's Website
Buy Southern Spiced: A Brown Girl's Tale
Felicia performs “Echoes in my Spirit”
At about 1:45, Felicia describes her childhood, mainly spent in Denton, Texas, and her relationship with language, reading, and “oral preservation of history”
At about 4:30, Felicia details some of her favorite books and writers growing up, including the great Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes
At about 6:25, Pete and Felicia meditate on the beauty and strength of Maya Angelou’s work, including her piece from Bill Clinton’s inauguration; thanks to Professor Winston for her contribution to Felicia’s reading!
At about 8:00, Felicia discusses the reading of varied genres that she read in college and beyond, including Stephen King (Pete shares a favorite piece of his from King) and Alice Walker
At about 11:30, the two discuss Langston Hughes’ impact on them
At about 12:45, Felicia discusses her creative history and impulses including her mindset in creating her short film and then elaborates on films’ advantages versus books’ advantages
At about 17:35, Felicia responds to Pete’s questions about “muses” and how she accentuates her creativity, especially the power of memory (19:05)
At about 19:50, Felicia answers Pete’s questions about what it is like to write about intimate relationships in her life
At about 22:00, Felicia expands upon some real-life and profound connections to particular poems in her collection, including to the staggeringly-upsetting case of Timothy Cole
At about 24:50, Pete and Felicia cite the four distinct parts of the novel and discuss the reasoning behind her many “dedications” in the book; she cites “Freedom Tree” as an especially powerful example of work “echoing in her head”
At about 26:40, Pete and Felicia ruminate on the importance of Sesame Street as they discuss the collection’s first poem
At about 27:45, Pete wonders about Felicia’s mindset in writing about racism and hate in conjunction with the beauty of innocence
At about 29:45, Pete highlights the carefree, breezy language that is childlike yet profound
At about 33:20, Felicia speaks to the disparate experiences expressed in back-to-back poems that involve her hair
At about 38:20, Felicia details the event and the feelings and fears associated with a childhood encounter with the KKK that compelled Felicia to write about it
At about 43:20, Pete and Felicia reflect on Part II and its highlighting of Soul Train and beautiful times with family
At about 46:20, Part III and its historical connections are highlighted, in addition to a “heart wrenching” quote from Timothy Cole
At about 49:10, the two explore “White Lies, Part I” and its focus on dementia and a reversal of roles
At about 51:35, Ideas of absurdist and dark humor are discussed in connection to “A Dignified Death, Please”
At about 54:10, Pete makes a Sopranos’ reference (evergreen statement??)
At about 54:45, Felicia reads “Red Lips”
At about 56:10, ---silence---as Pete makes a 112 reference
At about 56:40, Felicia outlines some contact info and provides contact/social media info
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The intro song for The Chills at Will Podcast is “Wind Down” (Instrumental Version), and the other song played on this episode was “Hoops” (Instrumental)” by Matt Weidauer, and both songs are used through ArchesAudio.com.
Please tune in for Episode 140 with Oscar Hokeah, who is a regionalist Native American writer of literary fiction, interested in capturing intertribal, transnational, and multicultural aspects within two tribally specific communities: Tahlequah and Lawton, Oklahoma. In addition, author of the recent standout novel, Calling for a Blanket Dance.
The episode will air on August 30.
Episode 217 with Jeff Sharlet, Author of The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, and Sharp-Eyed Chronicler of Impending Fascism and Previous Fighters in The Movements
Episode 216 with Kate Maruyama: Author of Bleak Houses, Master Worldbuilder, and Skilled Observer and Chronicler of Family Traumas, Class and Privilege, and Psychological Horrors Modern and Timeless
Episode 215 with Nick Fuller Googins, Reflective and Dynamic Worldbuilder, Educator, and Creator of the ”Hopeful” Climate Crisis Novel, The Great Transition
Episode 214 with Leah Myers, Chronicler of the Heartfelt, the Specific, the Universal, and the Myth and Proud History of the Jamestown S’Klallam in the Memoir, Thinning Blood
Episode 213 with Andrew Porter, Reflective and Genius of the Understated and Resonant, Creator of Unforgettable Characters, and Author of the Story Collection, The Disappeared
Episode 212 with Theresa Rundstedtler, Savvy, Reflective, Thorough Researcher on Race and Sport, and Author of Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood and the Generation that Saved the Game
Episode 211 with Chris L. Terry and James Spooner, Passionate Researchers, Veteran Punk Rockers, and Stewards and Proponents of Black Punk Excellence for Future Generations
Episode 210 with Dan Sinykin, Wise, Thorough Chronicler of The Publishing Industry’s Changing Mores, & Author of Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry and American Literature
Episode 209 with Julie Carrick Dalton, Standout Worldbuilder and Crafter of Plot Twists, Memorable Characters, Salient Storylines, and Author of The Last Beekeeper
Episode 208 with Sowmya Krishnamurthy, Author of Fashion Killa: How Hip-Hop Revolutionized High Fashion, and Keen Chronicler and Thoughtful Observer of Hip Hop, Pop Culture, and Fashion
Episode 207 with Ursula Villarreal-Moura, Master of Flash Fiction, Short, Powerful Stories, and Prose that Explores Intricate Emotions in Clever and Profound Ways
Episode 206 with David Mura, Thoughtful, Thorough, Wise Student and Chronicler of the Ills of White Supremacy and the Ways in Which Racism Works, and Author of The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself
Episode 205 with Josh Riedel, Author of Please Report Your Bug Here, Standout Worldbuilder, and Sage Observer and Chronicler of the Evolution/Devolution of Tech and its Impact on Our Society/Ourselves
Episode 204 with Kara H.L. Chen, Standout YA Writer of Love and Resistance and Crafter of Believable and Relatable and Empathy-Inducing Characters
Episode 203 with V.V. (Sugi) Ganeshananthan, Master Craftswoman of Tender and Gutting Storylines and Characters, and Author of the Modern Classic, Brotherless Night
Episode 202 with Dennis J. Sweeney, Reflective and Persistently Profound Thinker and Craftsman of Poems Both Abstract and Concrete and Author of You’re the Woods Too
Episode 201 with Erica J Berry, Thoughtful and Thorough Writer Who Seamlessly Combines Multiple Disciplines and Genres in Her Enthralling Wolfish: Wolf, Self, and the Stories We Tell About Fear
EPISODE 200 with Adam Vitcavage, Raconteur, Skilled Writer of Literary and Music Criticism, and Charismatic Advocate for Debut Authors Through his Podcast Debutiful: Discover Debut Authors
Episode 199 with Jared Beloff, Reflective Thinker, Painter of Beautiful Imagery and Debut Standout Author of the Climate Change-Themed Poetry Collection, Who Will Cradle Your Head
Episode 198 with Sarah Thankam Mathews, Master of the Visceral and Rational, Beautiful Sentence and Sentiment Creator, and Author of 2022’s National Book Award Shortlisted All This Could Be Different
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